Beliefs

GOD

We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign Ruler of the universe. He is one God but made up of three different persons – the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. These three are co-equal in power and glory and deserve our worship, love, and service.

THE BIBLE

We believe that God’s Word the Bible is absolute truth that we can base our lives upon. The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, preserved words of God Himself that He has graciously given to mankind. It is our only rule for faith and practice. Believers should love their Bibles and live their Bibles. We also believe the King James version to be the best English translation.

SALVATION

We believe all men are sinners, entering this world separated from God. Mankind can do nothing to save himself, and thereby we reject any religion or philosophy that has a works-oriented salvation. Because He knew we could never save ourselves, God sent His only Son Jesus into this world to pay the penalty of sin which was death; this Christ did when He went to the cross and willingly laid down His life as the substitute sacrifice for every individual. We believe He literally died, was buried, and then bodily arose from the grave three days later. Christ’s death and resurrection provided complete satisfaction to the Father’s justice and therefore provides the way for us as sinners to be redeemed back to a Holy God.

God’s gift of salvation has already been purchased by the Son and is entirely free, but we must still choose to receive it through repentance and faith. We must repent (change the mind about sin and about Christ) and then believe (depend upon Christ alone) to receive forgiveness of sins and a home in heaven. It is a simple child-like trust in what Jesus has already accomplished for us that puts us into the family of God. We believe repentance and faith precedes regeneration, and that man is entirely responsible to choose God’s free gift. We therefore reject all forms of Calvinism, believing it is a twisting of the Scriptures and thereby a dangerous theology. We also reject Arminianism as the Bible teaches believers are secure in Christ forever.

THE CHURCH

We believe that God’s program for this age of grace is the New Testament local church. We do believe that there is a universal body of believers, but God’s main emphasis in this age is what He’s doing through His church. The church is a group of regenerate persons who assemble together for worship of God, encouragement and edification of saints, and to carry out the great commission to reach the lost and establish other churches. The church has two offices: the pastor-teacher and also the deacons. We believe that two ordinances were given to the church – baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are done out of obedience and not to secure or add to our salvation.

SATAN AND HELL

We believe Satan to be a real person and the arch-enemy of God. He wants to destroy God’s cause any way he can. He is a defeated foe because of Christ’s victory on Calvary, but he is still wreaking havoc while he can and he’s out to destroy and render ineffective all true believers. We also believe hell to be a real place of literal fire; it was not originally created for man, but for the devil and his angels. Mankind chooses to go there though when He rejects Christ, God’s only way of salvation.

THE SECOND COMING

We believe in the pre-tribulational, pre-millennial rapture of all true believers. Shortly after that will be a seven year tribulation time when God will pour out His wrath upon an unbelieving world. Christ will physically return at the end of the tribulation to set up His millennial kingdom, and He will rule in righteousness and peace. After one final attempt to thwart Christ and His cause, the devil and his followers will be defeated and thrown into the Lake of Fire to be tortured throughout all eternity. God will usher in the new heavens and earth and Christians will dwell with Him forever and ever.

SEPARATION/CHRISTIAN LIVING

We believe salvation to be much more than just a ticket to heaven, but it should impact every area of our daily lives. We believe those who are saved should strive in the power of Christ to live a holy, separated life unto God for His glory and service. We should not be characterized by a love for the world but a love for God and His cause. We should be strangers from this world’s philosophy and entertainment, living for the eternal and not the temporary. We also believe that we cannot live how God wants us to in and of ourselves, but it is Christ who now lives through us, giving us victory over sin and power for service.